Coke to extend recycling scheme to events with Epsom zone

Speaking exclusively to Packaging News at the launch of the company’s latest recycling zone, Coca-Cola Enterprises vice president Erika Coghlin said the drinks giant was on track to meet its target of 80 zones across the country by 2011 and the Epsom zone would test how much material could be collected at such events.

Coghlin said the schemes were helping to close the loop for packaging materials and that consumers had reacted positively to the scheme, with the majority using the facilities correctly.

“It’s about consumer education and putting facilities in to make sure the materials are collected, and collected well,” she said.

Coghlin said the ideal situation would be for the material collected to be converted back into packaging, but admitted that getting sufficient material of the right quality was still a challenge.

“We are working with Closed Loop London to get recycled PET from the plant, but compared to other materials we use it is a challenge to get the levels we are looking for,” she said.

On Tuesday, Coca-Cola launched its twelfth zone at Manchester Airport adding to zones at theme parks, hospitals and universities, as well as shopping centres.

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